McDermott thanks Wilton firefighter who saved his life

By TOM EVANS Villager Staff Writer

Published 2:00 am, Saturday, September 6, 2014

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Firefighter Michael Blatchey accepts a commendation from Fire Chief Ron Kanterman for his life-saving efforts last month at the Wilton Chamber of Commerce’s Street Fair, where Blatchley helped a Wilton man who severely injured his wrist.

Firefighter Michael Blatchey accepts a commendation from Fire Chief Ron Kanterman for his life-saving efforts last month at the Wilton Chamber of Commerce’s Street Fair, where Blatchley helped a Wilton

WILTON — Brian McDermott, a member of Wilton’s Community Emergency Response Team, took time out of his busy schedule to thank Firefighter Michael Blatchley for his live-saving efforts in July.

“Last month, at the Wilton Chamber of Commerce Street Fair, while on a deployment for Wilton CERT, an unfortunate freak accident occurred, and I gravely injured myself with a wound to my artery in my left wrist,” McDermott said. “I was losing blood fast and time was not on my side.

“Luckily Firefighter Mike Blatchley and Lt. Gregg Kitik (of the Wilton Fire Department) were already on the scene for the event itself and just a couple of feet from me. Lt. Kitik was on his radio instantly requesting the ambulance, and Firefighter Blatchley went into action,” he said.

McDermott knows that words are not enough, but he had to try.

“Merely saying thank you to the man that saved my life seems to fall far short in comparison for what Firefighter Blatchley did for me on July 12th,” McDermott said. “It’s a debt that can never be repaid.

“A couple of days after the incident I walked into fire headquarters and shook Mike’s hand behind closed doors,” McDermott said. “At (the Aug. 18) Board of Selectmen meeting, it was a privilege to attend Firefighter Michael Blatchley’s public recognition ceremony for his actions that day. On behalf of myself & my family, thank you for your quick thinking, for your tireless training, for never leaving my side — all the way to the hospital — and for risking your life, every day.”

McDermott extended the praise to all the town’s first responders.

“This is for all the times no one comes back to say that to you,” McDermott said. “It is not taken for granted, I promise you. That goes to all of our firefighters, police and volunteer ambulance corps members. Thanks for what you all do, every day.”

McDermott added that this incident has inspired him to take a step up the first-responder ladder, so to speak.

“Mike Blatchley inspired me to start taking EMT classes, as well as start volunteering with the American Red Cross’s Disaster Action Team, which is a nice complement to my CERT training,” McDermott said. “The EMT class just started at NCC last night and goes into January where I hope to become a licensed EMT after 190 hours of training.

“I am not exactly looking for a career change at this point in my life and don’t really know if I will actually have the time to join the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, but if learning these skills allows me to help just one person in need like I was at some point down the road, I don’t really see a better way to pay it forward,” he said.